Donation ProcessHow it Works

Initial Screening

International Milk Bank gathers breast milk from lactating mothers who have breast milk in excess of the needs of their infant. The most important thing is to make sure that breastfeeding your infant is established before you decide to donate any milk. We only want you to donate breast milk after your babies needs are fully met. You can donate previously collected frozen milk or newly expressed milk up to 10 months from date of expressions as long as it is clearly marked with the month, day and year of expression. We ask that potential donors have at least 500 ounces of frozen breast milk ready to donate before applying. Please go over the donor qualifications to assess if you would be a qualified donor before applying.

Online application

You must first complete an online application. The application includes a a medical history survey and will include a donor agreement and consent to donate. Once the application is processed, you will receive an email and or phone call on how to proceed next. All personal information is kept confidential and our records are HIPAA compliant.

Medical Confirmation Forms

We require that the donor have her medical provider and her infant’s medical provider sign a confirmation form ensuring that both mom and baby are healthy and it is safe for mom to donate breast milk.

Donor Blood Testing

Once you are pre-qualified as a donor and you have completed online application, initial phone screening, medical and lifestyle history review, and have read the International Milk Bank information packet, Our staff will order the comprehensive blood test to screen for HIV, HTLV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis. You will receive the blood test prescription via your email with all the instructions to complete the test at a lab near you.

Donor Drug Abuse Testing

All donors are screened for drug abuse via a urine test at the same appointment time and location as the blood test. Tests Include: amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids (marijuana), cocaine, methadone (Dolophine®), opiates (codeine, morphine only), and phencyclidine (PCP) propoxyphene.

Freezer Testing

To ensure that your freezer is cold enough to properly store breast milk for donation, please turn your freezer down to its coldest setting. International Milk Bank will send you a thermometer to test your freezer.

Shipping your Donation

Once you are qualified as a safe donor, you will receive email notification with detailed written instructions on how to label, pack and ship your donation. You will be sent at no cost to you a shipping cooler, gel bricks and a prepaid shipping label with which to ship your milk. At this time, if you will be an “on-going donor”, you will be provided with breast milk storage bags to be used for future donations.

Donor Survey

After each donation International Milk Bank will email you a survey to be completed before any future donations.

Minimum Donations

International Milk Bank is able to accept milk donors from all over the Continental United States. We ask that applicants have at least 500 ounces of frozen breast milk ready to donate before applying.

The entire process can take 2-3 weeks to complete

The time frame depends on how quickly the medical confirmation forms, the freezer temperature reading, the blood and urine testing are collected. All costs for shipping are covered and there is no cost to the donor for the cooler box and shipping supplies.

All personal information is kept confidential and our records are HIPAA compliant.